A carnivorous freshwater fish living in South American rivers and belonging to the families of Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus
small voraciously carnivorous freshwater fishes of South America that attack and destroy living animals
A piranha is a small, fierce fish which is found in South America. a South American fish with sharp teeth that lives in rivers and eats flesh. or caribe Any of several species of deep-bodied, carnivorous fishes in the genus Serrasalmus (family Characidae), abundant in rivers of eastern and central South America and noted for voracity. The red-bellied piranha (S. nattereri) grows to 2 ft (60 cm) long, but most species are smaller. Some species are silvery with an orange belly and throat; others are almost completely black. All have sharp, saw-edged teeth that close in a scissorlike bite. Traveling in groups, they usually prey on other fishes, but red-bellied piranhas occasionally converge on larger animals. Though generally scavengers, they are attracted to the scent of blood and can quickly reduce even a large animal to a skeleton